Sam Highfill

Crunch time for area college baseball teams

May 4, 2022 Brett Friedlander

Duke baseball coach Chris Pollard gathered his players for a pep talk last week as they prepared to begin the final month of the regular season. “May ball is here,” he said in the speech, […]

Baseball gets digital signal boost

April 19, 2022 Brett Friedlander

RALEIGH — At some point early in NC State’s season-opening baseball game against Evansville last month, Sam Highfill looked toward his catcher for the sign, something he’s done in every game he’s pitched since Little […]

College baseball preview: NC State baseball looks for redemption

February 16, 2022 Brett Friedlander

The sting from NC State’s controversial exit from the College World Series last summer won’t soon go away for coach Elliott Avent. But if there’s anything that can at least partially salve the still-open wound, […]

Look Ahead — 2022 Bold Predictions

December 29, 2021 North State Journal Staff

Every year, the sports staff of North State Journal (sports editor Cory Lavalette and reporters Brett Friedlander and Shawn Krest) look into our crystal balls and try and predict what some of the bigger news […]

2021 College Team of the Year: Wolfpack’s miracle season ended in crushing COVID disappointment

December 22, 2021 Shawn Krest

Elliott Avent was once bitten by a copperhead while walking his dog and had to coach the postseason in a protective boot. He once performed an on-field spin move to avoid coaches and players trying […]

A season to remember, ending to forget for NC State

June 30, 2021 Shawn Krest

Five years ago, just as college baseball’s postseason was about to begin, NC State head coach Elliott Avent suffered a freak accident. While walking his 10-week old rescue puppy, Avent and the dog were confronted […]

NCAA decision ends NC State’s College World Series run

June 26, 2021 Shawn Krest

OMAHA, Neb. — NC State’s baseball season came to an end early Saturday morning, hours before the players were scheduled to take the field for a deciding third game against Vanderbilt. “The NCAA Division I […]

Depleted NC State team suffers first CWS loss

June 25, 2021 Shawn Krest

OMAHA, Neb. — A season that has been improbable and unlikely finally jumped the shark for NC State in a Friday afternoon game at the College World Series that pushed the bounds of credulity. The […]

Team effort leads NC State to Omaha success

June 22, 2021 Shawn Krest

OMAHA, Neb. — NC State is not ESPN’s kind of team. The sports network is known for (perhaps infamous for) obsessing on the star player on a given team — the LeBrons, Zions, Bradys and […]

NC State wins pitchers’ duel to advance in CWS

June 21, 2021 Shawn Krest

OMAHA, Neb. — For four innings, it looked like NC State would need to make sure their jerseys were tucked in and hats were on straight, because they were going to be the supporting players […]